Where
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
282 S. High Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472 Phone 707-829-4797
Enter LEFT SIDE DOOR
Driving Directions
Visit our website for more information about our region, programs and services.
We are a volunteer organization and need your help at our meetings. Email Charles Markee, ctmarkeeATSIGNgmail.com, volunteer meeting coordinator, if you would like help with set-up, check-in, snacks, etc. at the Sonoma County meetings.
Check out our schedule for meetings and programs throughout the region.
- Sat., August 30, Beyond the Bay Contra Costa and Alameda County Meeting - Walnut Creek
- Sat., Sept. 13, Marin County Meeting - Corte Madera
- Sept. 25 - 27, Creative Get Away Retreat, Muir Beach
- Sat. Oct. 4, Napa County Meeting, PB Author Emily Jiang, "Creating Compelling Characters"
- Registration Open for October 17 Intensives, Oct. 18, Fall Conference
- Sat. Nov. 1, Beyond the Bay Contra Costa and Alameda County Meeting
SCBWI NORTH BAY SONOMA COUNTY MEETING
Thursday, September 4th, 7 - 9 pm
HOW TO CREATE SUCCESSFUL OPENING HOOKS
by Author-editor-teacher Annemarie O'Brien
The most important paragraph of any story you will write whether it is fifty words or fifty thousand words is the first paragraph. It is what kids, parents, teachers, librarians, agents, and editors will look at when evaluating whether to turn the page and read further. This is why writing a strong opening that hooks readers is critical and worth every ounce of energy and time you can invest in perfecting it.
Annemarie will help you identify the key components of a solid opening and show you how to weave them into your own openings. Her process applies to all genres from picture books to novels.
Annemarie O’Brien has an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She teaches writing courses at UC Berkeley, Stanford, Pixar, and DreamWorks. She also edits children’s books for Room to Read a non-profit that advocates literacy in developing countries. Her debut novel, LARA’S GIFT (Knopf, 2013) earned starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal and was a California Book Award finalist, Northern California Book Award finalist, an SCBWI Crystal Kite California Book Award finalist, and is a Nene Award and Amelia Bloomer Project Nominee.
Click HERE to view Annemarie’s web site or HERE to view her blog!
Members registration on-line $10, at the door $15
Non-members registration on-line $15, at the door $20
NOTE: You do not need a PayPal account to register. Follow the links to pay by credit card if you don't have a PayPal account.